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With the rise of online media, more people are being exposed to a variety of content, including stories of miraculous natural cures for cancer. These unverified and scientifically unsupported dietary treatments are spreading rapidly online. But do these methods actually work?

Origins of Diet Myths

On July 1, 2024, Scientific American published an article titled "Quack Cancer Diets Endanger People. Stick to Science-Backed Medicine." This article highlighted the public's misconceptions about food's ability to cure or prevent cancer. The author mentioned a tweet from May describing a breast cancer patient who allegedly cured herself with a special diet after refusing chemotherapy. This tweet reached millions, convincing many of the diet's efficacy. However, the author’s investigation revealed that the patient's recovery was primarily due to surgery.

"For patients and their families, the promise of a simple cure or prevention method is understandably attractive. But these so-called treatments are far from a panacea for cancer patients and often carry potential dangers," the article stated.

Debunking the Myths

In November 2023, author David Robert Grimes and surgeon and cancer survivor Liz O’Riordan co-wrote an article discussing cancer "diet myths." They addressed the misconception that sugar or carbohydrates "feed" cancer, leading to advocacy for high-protein ketogenic or all-meat diets as cures. Others promote alkaline diets or veganism to prevent cancer based on the erroneous belief that acidic environments foster cancer growth. Grimes pointed out in Scientific American that these claims arise from misunderstandings of cancer biology.

Healthy cells generate energy through aerobic respiration, producing large amounts of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). In contrast, tumor cells favor glycolysis, using extra glucose under low oxygen conditions to produce small amounts of ATP and an acidic byproduct that alters the tumor microenvironment. German scientist Otto Warburg discovered this phenomenon in 1924, theorizing that this metabolic shift might cause cancer. Modern research, however, suggests this is a result of cancer rather than a cause. The growth of cancer cells is complex, and attributing it to diet alone oversimplifies and misleads.

Online media frequently features stories of individuals or their loved ones curing cancer through natural remedies. While these narratives are compelling, they lack scientific evidence and often omit critical details.

Grimes emphasized that patients who turn to alternative and complementary therapies over conventional treatments generally face worse outcomes, potentially leading to higher mortality rates.

The Reality of Cancer Treatment

Cancer is highly complex, but global research is advancing, leading to increasing survival rates. In recent years, significant progress has been made in cancer vaccines, and we may soon see their widespread availability. It is crucial to be wary of social media's skewed reporting, which poses serious risks to patients by promoting unverified treatments.

While the allure of simple dietary cures for cancer is strong, it is essential to rely on science-backed treatments. Misleading information on social media can endanger patients by steering them away from effective medical care. Continuous advancements in cancer research offer hope, but they also underscore the importance of skepticism towards unproven remedies.

Reference:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/quack-cancer-diets-endanger-people-stick-to-science-backed-medicine